The Gazette 1992

APRIL 1992

GAZETTE

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to dismiss my contribution as one of exaggerated hysteria. I should add that this concern is one which is shared by a number of my colleagues and is not born of an isolated incident. I supply you herewith with my name and address. I would rather that you withold these as I fear that a certain section of the profession has not realised sufficient maturity to accept what I say in the spirit in which it is intended, namely, for improved professional relations and respect for all colleagues irrespective of their sex.

to the effect that only lip service has been paid to the Irish language by Government etc. but I do feel the following points should be borne in mind. Firstly, the standard of Irish required for the Society exams is not an exacting standard and I do think that it would be a very unsatisfactory situation if learned members of our profession are going to be incapable of pronouncing or understanding even the local place names in their own country! It is true to say that the legal requirement is discriminatory and no doubt if Government were serious about the Irish language they would provide adequate services at every level in the language and all persons dealing with the public would be required to have a knowledge of the language. At a time when we are drawing closer to our European partners where almost all countries in the EC have bilingual situations it seems in my view to be a retrograde step for the Society to adopt the position which it is adopting in this case.

The Editor, Gazette

Sexist Forms of Address

Dear Editor,

I write to the Gazette as the forum of last resort concerning a certain phenomenon which I encounter from time to time in dealing with some of my professional colleagues. I am a solicitor practising in the Dublin area and occasionally, in the day to day contact with some of my male colleagues, I find that I am often addressed by them as "love", "dear", even "good girl" in the course of mutual professional dealings. In my experience these terms of reference are used exclusively as a form of deliberate diminution of my equal professional status. This is quite apparent from the manner in which these terms are inserted, either in consultation (sometimes in the presence of clients), or in telephone conversation. I stress that these terms of reference are employed by both young and not so young alike. Through the good offices of the Gazette, I would like to bring to the attention of these offending solicitors and to the members of the profession as a whole that such offensive and objectionable attitudes in the conduct of professional affairs are wholly inadequate and totally unacceptable and as such require immediate elimination. They are damaging not only to the much maligned image of the profession itself, but more importantly they have the propensity to interfere in clients' affairs to the detriment of the general public seeking a professional service. I therefore take this opportunity in exhorting your readers to guard against such prevailing and, at times, deeply ingrained, sexist attitudes and not

Yours etc.,

(Name and address with editor).

Re: Proposed abolition of Irish language requirement for solicitors.

The Editor, The Gazette

Sir,

I was rather surprised to note in the Gazette (Viewpoint, Jan/Feb 1992) that the Law Society has been urging the Government to alter the law relating to the requirement that those seeking admission as solicitors or barristers should as a matter of law pass an examination in the Irish language before they can be admitted. I have not been aware of any great pressure in the profession relating to a change concerning this situation nor indeed have I been aware of the fact that the Society has decided to make a decision to go on record as being opposed to the present legal situation. I would of course agree with the general tenor of the article which is

Yours etc.,

Tom O'Donnell 15 Mary St., Galway

The Editor, Gazette

Sir, I refer to your recent editorial in relation to the necessity of sitting the first and second Irish examinations. I would like to make the following points:- a) I presume that the purpose of the Irish examinations is to test the 119